The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-06-23
BEFORE The SUPREME ;OURT,
Presentation of Resolutions on the
Death of Colonel Peeler.
Remarks of Major Walton, and Re-
spouse by Judge Willie.

Travis county, on the death of the late
Col. A. j. Peeler, W. NJ. Walton, esq, ad-
dressed the court as follows:
May it please the court:-At a meeting
of the Austin bar on the 9th day of No
veLnber, 1886, convoked to express the
sentiment of its loss-the professions loss
and the country's loss, in the death of A. j.
Peeler-the following resolutions were
unaI imously adopted:
The resolutions adopted by the bar,
and heretofore published in The STATES
MAN, We're read.
1t will be observed that John Hancock
and were selected at that bar meeting to
present the adopted resolutions to this
court, wherein our lost brother was 50
favorably known and highly appreciated
in all relations he bore to this high tribu-
nal. My colleague, who was to aid me in
this sad duty, has been, by causes over
which he had no control, called away, and
l am left alone to perform the service
which was devolved on US two.
A. j. Peeler, in the PRIME of life, and in
the midst of his usefulness, as citizen,
man and lawyer, left US, who loved him,
suddenly and unexpectedly, at the call of
death, who sooner or later will call US all.
1t is an old saying that death loves a
shining MARYLAND in this instance the
saying is proven true. In the natural
course of events, age, habits and physical
powers considered, it was but Ieasona BILE
to expect that our brother would have
lived to aid in the burial of his old
friends, such at least as those selected to
speak to his memory he.e; but such was
M tn no prnui1anna in its nj starinns
ways, demanded his presence and services
in the high courts above.
A. j. Peeler was born on the 22d day of
April, 1888, in the county of Harris, state
of Georgia. When about ten years old
his father moved to the state of Florida,
in which state our brother commenced,
after full preparation, the practice of law
at Newport, having received his license in
1857, before he was twenty-one years old.
He continued his practice for about two
years, and was then elected by joint ballot
of the two houses of the legislature clerk
of the supreme court This position he
filled until the outbreak of the war between
the states in 1861. In that war he was a
gallant soldier. He served under General
Bragg at Pensacola, and under General Lee
in Virginia. At Gettysburg he was
wounded and taken prisoner, and con
tinued a prisoner until just before the
surrender of General Lee at AppOmattox.
The war over, he returned to Tallahassee,
and resumed the practice of his profess
sion. Poor in purse, but with
indomitable will, he conquered ad-
verse surroundings, and was at an
early day in full practice, the peer
of any lawyer in the state. He was ap-
pointed the associate of Chas. Fl. Dupont,
ex-chief justice of the supreme court, and
M. D. Papy, encouragement, to revise
he laws of the state of Florida. After
his duty was performed he was elected to
the legislature that was to pass on the
laws as revised and as such member took
large part in shaping the system of laws
to govern the people of the state, and on
them left the impress of his profound
knowledge. Although ne might have at
tanned high political places, he declined to
aspire to them, but confined himself
strictly to the practice of his profession.
For several years, prior to his removal to
Texas, he was engaged in conducting
some of the heaviest litigation known to
the courts of Florida.
Mr.. Peeler removed to Austin, Texas, in
1878, where he resided until his
death on the 9TH day of November,
1886. In this, his new home, he promptly
took prominent rank among the able law
yers of this bar. In 1874, he was ap-
pointed assistant attorney general of
Texas, by Governor Richard Coke, the
duties of which position he filled to
the entire satisfaction of the bar,
the people and the courts; protect,
ing alike, fairly and ably, the interests
of the public and the citizen.
The legal services of Mr.. Peeler in Tex
as were conspicuous, able and brilliant.
He was of signal benefit to the state, the
courts and the profession, outside of his
regular practice. He was author of the
forgery statute, in regard to land titles,
which beng enforced, broke up and de-
stroyed the most dangerous combina-
ton of dishonest men that ever existed
in Texas. He was one of the commission
that investigated the charges of cruelty to
convicts, and did so with such vigor and
thoroughness that these grievous wrongs
were righted, aud they have not been re
peated since, save to the most limited ex-
tent. He alone conducted the now cele-
brated aud historical case that involved
the Mercer colony lands, carrying it to a
successful conclusion through the supreme
court of the United States, after adverse
rulings by the United States circuit
court, at Austin. He was the author of
'Peeler's Law and Equity in United States
Courts" book of great merit, and very
helpful to practitioners in the federal
courts.
Other acts and facts could be recited,
which show that our brother was no or
binary man, but have dwelt at sufficient
length on his career in and out of Texas.
A. j. Peeler was indeed no ordinary.
man. On the contrary, his brain was
large, well cultivated and finely disciplined
enabling him to meet and cope with the |
ablest men in Texas. There was a notable
feature about him as a lawyer; he never
tried to deceive the court nor take undue |
advantage of his order, saying in his cases, |
she loved the law and he loved fair play, |
and therefore his legal contests were con
Quoted on a high plain" He tried to
make the law and the reason of the law |
prevail. His industry, energy, system and |
state of readiness were phenomenal, while |
his courtesy and patience were never ex-
hausted.
His associations were with the learned |
and upright his friends were as numer-